Whether she's leading an indie film or starring in a top box-office saga, Jennifer Lawrence is one to be watched. We highlight the movie darling's beginnings and upcoming endeavors.

Whether she's leading an indie film or starring in a top box-office saga, Jennifer Lawrence is one to be watched. We highlight the movie darling's beginnings and upcoming endeavors. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Lawrence sustained her indie film path by starring in the drama "Winter's Bone," pictured. The producers of this film initially rejected Lawrence; they feared her good looks weren't right for the grueling role. She appeared at the New York casting call once more and proved them wrong.

Lawrence sustained her indie film path by starring in the drama "Winter's Bone," pictured. The producers of this film initially rejected Lawrence; they feared her good looks weren't right for the grueling role. She appeared at the New York casting call once more and proved them wrong. (Sebastian Mlynarski / Roadside Attractions)

Her performance in "Winter's Bone" was so riveting, she earned an Oscar nod. And unlike in the film, Lawrence wasn't afraid to put her good looks on display when she arrived at the 2011 Academy Awards in a figure-hugging red Calvin Klein gown.

Her performance in "Winter's Bone" was so riveting, she earned an Oscar nod. And unlike in the film, Lawrence wasn't afraid to put her good looks on display when she arrived at the 2011 Academy Awards in a figure-hugging red Calvin Klein gown. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

In 2011, Lawrence appeared in another Sundance Grand Jury Prize indie movie (first was "Winter's Bone") when she played a small role as the sweet, temporary girlfriend, Sam, to actor Anton Yelchin's Jacob in "Like Crazy," which also starred actress Felicity Jones.

In 2011, Lawrence appeared in another Sundance Grand Jury Prize indie movie (first was "Winter's Bone") when she played a small role as the sweet, temporary girlfriend, Sam, to actor Anton Yelchin's Jacob in "Like Crazy," which also starred actress Felicity Jones. (Fred Hayes / Paramount Pictures)

Changing gears quite a bit, Lawrence played a blue shape-shifting creature in the sci-fi reboot film "X-Men: First Class." It took seven hours of makeup to turn Lawrence into her character Mystique. On set, Lawrence met Nicholas Hoult, who became her on-again, off-again beau.

Changing gears quite a bit, Lawrence played a blue shape-shifting creature in the sci-fi reboot film "X-Men: First Class." It took seven hours of makeup to turn Lawrence into her character Mystique. On set, Lawrence met Nicholas Hoult, who became her on-again, off-again beau. (Murray Close / Fox)

The China benefit for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” could come at the expense of “Gravity,” as Chinese officials announced that the Lionsgate sequel will debut in the world’s biggest nation just one day after Alfonso Cuarón’s space drama premieres there.

In opening on Nov. 21, the latest “Hunger Games” will be arriving in China even a few hours before the Jennifer Lawrence sequel lands in domestic theaters.

The first movie adapted from Suzanne Collins’ bestselling dystopian thriller series didn’t get to China until almost three months after its U.S. launch, meaning that pirated DVDs of the film were widely available.

In a statement, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman said, " 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ has become a truly global phenomenon, and its day-and-date release in this key territory further cements its status as a worldwide motion picture event of epic proportions.”

While the adult-skewing “Gravity,” which is a huge hit with a worldwide gross to date of more than $283 million for Warner Bros., and the teen-powered “The Hunger Games” sequel appeal to different audiences, the proximity of the two films in Chinese theaters will likely hurt both at the box office.

In recent years, Chinese authorities have scheduled some American blockbusters directly opposite each other, in part to depress their ticket sales so that Chinese films will have a larger share of box-office revenues.

Steven Spielberg is attached to direct Jennifer Lawrence in a Warner Bros. film based on photojournalist Lynsey Addario's memoir, "It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War," The Times has confirmed.

In Kris Swanberg's quiet and absorbing "Empire Builder," a young mother stares out the window of her Lake Shore Drive high-rise, the sound of traffic and street noise from below gradually becoming louder and overwhelming, as though mimicking the restless emotions hiding behind the placid look...

In chatting with Julianne Moore for her (now Oscar-winning) turn in the drama "Still Alice" a little while ago, I’d asked what it was like to star in that film so close to the Hollywood satire “Maps to the Stars.” The two pieces, after all, are about as tonally different as...